Former resident wins top manager award from Food Lion

Published: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 3:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 3:18 p.m.

Lots of children have memories of going to the grocery store with their mom, but not many can say they grew up in one.

Charles Inman, manager of a Food Lion in Cary, was recognized by his company as the recipient of the 2012 Store Manager Excellence Award. He has 11 years of experience with Food Lion but practically a lifetime of knowledge of the industry as his parents used to own South Lexington Grocery.

"He grew up packing strawberries and stocking shelves as a young boy. There were some days he would be at the grocery store with us and helping us," said Inman's mother, Delores Smith of Lexington.

Smith and her husband, Robert, owned South Lexington Grocery Store from 1993 until 2000 when large retailers such as Walmart began to draw business away from locally owned stores.

"I literally grew up in the business," said Inman, a 2004 graduate of West Davidson High School. "I can remember falling asleep on the cash register when my baby-sitter would drop me off at the store."

South Lexington Grocery closed when Inman was 14, and at the age of 16, he began to work for Food Lion as a cashier. He moved away to go to North Carolina State University in Raleigh where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources. Inman said he worked full time through college and upon graduation, he decided to stay with the company. Over the years he has been a cashier, produce manager, office manager and assistant store manager before attaining his current position.

"I would say staying in the industry was always in my thoughts. I knew it was something I could do and enjoy," Inman said. "I love working with people in general. We have the ability to impact thousands of people every day from customers to associates."

The award is based upon several key factors including associate development, leadership, strategic decision-making, cross-organizational collaboration and teamwork, executional excellence, extraordinary results, great customer experiences, community involvement, and diversity and inclusion. Inman said he believes one of the items that sticks out to him is his work with associate development.

"I probably trained 15 store managers last year and four this year so far. I like that I get the opportunity to work with many people," Inman explained.

"Charles is an excellent leader in his store, and he delivers the Food Lion brand to our customers and his associates every day," noted Troy Leshko, division vice president for Food Lion's Mid-Atlantic division, in a company press release. "Charles' store leadership and strong business acumen helps him excel as a store manager every day. He is an extremely humble leader and demonstrates each of our company's core values every day. He is a strong developer of talent and also sets very high expectations for both himself and his team."

But that hard work was evident to his mother years before the award.

"Charles was always a hard worker," Smith noted. "When he wasn't at the store with us, he would have chores to do at home. He always wanted a list. He didn't want me to tell him what to do. He wanted me to leave him a list, and he always did the very best he could at any task."

Inman was chosen for the award among 1,119 store managers across the company.

"I was very surprised and honored to receive (the award)," Inman said. "For me it was really humbling. We have a lot of great store managers in our company and to be recognized as being the best last year, it is very humbling.

"I love what I do. I don't think anyone wants to work all the time. But it's a whole lot easier to get up and go to work when you enjoy what you do."

Rebekah Cansler McGee can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 228, or at rebekah.mcgee@the-dispatch.com.

<p>Lots of children have memories of going to the grocery store with their mom, but not many can say they grew up in one.</p><p>Charles Inman, manager of a Food Lion in Cary, was recognized by his company as the recipient of the 2012 Store Manager Excellence Award. He has 11 years of experience with Food Lion but practically a lifetime of knowledge of the industry as his parents used to own South Lexington Grocery. </p><p>"He grew up packing strawberries and stocking shelves as a young boy. There were some days he would be at the grocery store with us and helping us," said Inman's mother, Delores Smith of Lexington. </p><p>Smith and her husband, Robert, owned South Lexington Grocery Store from 1993 until 2000 when large retailers such as Walmart began to draw business away from locally owned stores. </p><p>"I literally grew up in the business," said Inman, a 2004 graduate of West Davidson High School. "I can remember falling asleep on the cash register when my baby-sitter would drop me off at the store."</p><p>South Lexington Grocery closed when Inman was 14, and at the age of 16, he began to work for Food Lion as a cashier. He moved away to go to North Carolina State University in Raleigh where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources. Inman said he worked full time through college and upon graduation, he decided to stay with the company. Over the years he has been a cashier, produce manager, office manager and assistant store manager before attaining his current position.</p><p>"I would say staying in the industry was always in my thoughts. I knew it was something I could do and enjoy," Inman said. "I love working with people in general. We have the ability to impact thousands of people every day from customers to associates."</p><p>The award is based upon several key factors including associate development, leadership, strategic decision-making, cross-organizational collaboration and teamwork, executional excellence, extraordinary results, great customer experiences, community involvement, and diversity and inclusion. Inman said he believes one of the items that sticks out to him is his work with associate development.</p><p>"I probably trained 15 store managers last year and four this year so far. I like that I get the opportunity to work with many people," Inman explained. </p><p>"Charles is an excellent leader in his store, and he delivers the Food Lion brand to our customers and his associates every day," noted Troy Leshko, division vice president for Food Lion's Mid-Atlantic division, in a company press release. "Charles' store leadership and strong business acumen helps him excel as a store manager every day. He is an extremely humble leader and demonstrates each of our company's core values every day. He is a strong developer of talent and also sets very high expectations for both himself and his team."</p><p>But that hard work was evident to his mother years before the award.</p><p>"Charles was always a hard worker," Smith noted. "When he wasn't at the store with us, he would have chores to do at home. He always wanted a list. He didn't want me to tell him what to do. He wanted me to leave him a list, and he always did the very best he could at any task."</p><p>Inman was chosen for the award among 1,119 store managers across the company.</p><p>"I was very surprised and honored to receive (the award)," Inman said. "For me it was really humbling. We have a lot of great store managers in our company and to be recognized as being the best last year, it is very humbling.</p><p>"I love what I do. I don't think anyone wants to work all the time. But it's a whole lot easier to get up and go to work when you enjoy what you do."</p><p>Rebekah Cansler McGee can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 228, or at rebekah.mcgee@the-dispatch.com.</p>